Shutdown would impact thousands at Naval Base Ventura County

If the federal government shutdown takes place, the effects will trickle out across Naval Base Ventura County, one of the region's largest employers.

But the threat was averted when Congress approved a temporary funding bill late Saturday night that will keep federal agencies open until Nov. 17, the Associated Press reported. If a deal had not been in place by midnight, millions of federal workers would have faced furloughs, including civilian employees at the local base.

Just how big an effect the funding lapse would have had on the naval base is part of a group of unknowns. Spokesman Drew Verbis said Thursday by email that base officials won't know whether a shutdown is happening until Sunday, after the fate of last-minute bills is known.

“Navy installations will continue mission-critical activities, emergency work involving the safety of human life or the protection of property, and other excepted activities as directed by the chain of command to sustain the fleet in the event of a government shutdown," Verbis said in an email. "We remain in communication with our military and civilian personnel in preparation for a possible furlough.”

About 4,000 active-duty military personnel and 24,000 civilians work at Naval Base Ventura County, he said. Some of those civilian workers will be furloughed if a shutdown occurs, but he did not have specific numbers.

Base workers are among millions of Americans who will be impacted if lawmakers can't reach a deal before 12:01 a.m. Sunday.

A shutdown would also affect the country's largest food assistance programs, federally funded preschool, federal college grants and loans, food safety inspections, national parks and more.

Naval base workers

A shutdown takes place when Congress is unable to pass a dozen annual spending bills that funnel money to federal programs and agencies like the base. When the House and Senate fail to reach a compromise, funding levels expire and federal agencies must cease all non-essential function.

If that occurs, active-duty personnel at Naval Base Ventura County would still be required to work and would get reimbursed once it ends, Verbis said. While working without pay, active duty wouldn't be given a large workload.

They'd "work in a limited capacity to support the mission," he said.

Reserve military personnel cannot execute orders or report for drill unless they are on an designated mission, which is different from civilians.

The situation for civilian workers can be complicated and varies by how they're paid — whether the pay is appropriated or not — as well as a worker's specific duties and other factors.

Many civilian workers face furloughs. Only a minimum number of employees deemed necessary to carry out essential activities will be exempt.

Affected civilian personnel would receive pay on Oct. 13 for work performed through Oct. 1, according to information from the base. Otherwise, they will not be paid until either an appropriations bill or Congressional Review Act is passed.

Federal workers affected by the shutdown will get retroactive pay as soon as the lapse in appropriations ends. Certain programs not funded by the federal appropriations process will continue, but base officials advise contacting those service providers.

This story may be updated.

Staff writer Brian Varela and USA Today reports contributed to this story.

This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Thousands at Naval Base Ventura County affected if shutdown occurs